Der Nervenarzt
-
The symptomatology of reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), a diagnostic term which today includes causalgia and M. Sudeck, is characterized clinically by a triad of autonomic (sympathetic), motor and sensory disturbances. They develop following a noxious event--though independent of its nature and location--in a generalized distribution pattern at the distal site of the affected extremity. ⋯ From these ideas, an important part of the RSD therapy is deduced; i.e. the early interruption of the neuronal sympathetic activity by means of a sympathetic blockade. Such a blockade can interrupt the pain and at the same time also the vicious circle of RSD. Altogether, for the RSD syndrome there are relevant neurological aspects with respect to its clinical symptomatology, its pathophysiology and its therapy.
-
In modification of a method published by Schoenen et al., early (ES 1) and late (ES 2) exteroceptive suppression periods elicited by perioral electrical trigeminus-stimulation during teeth-clenching were recorded with surface electrodes over the temporalis muscles. 29 patients with chronic tension headache, 20 with migraine, 7 patients with combined tension headache and migraine and 19 controls were examined. Duration of the late suppression period for the mean of three single shocks was highly significantly reduced in chronic tension headache sufferers and patients with combined tension headache and migraine when compared with migraine cases or controls. ⋯ EMG analysis of temporalis late exteroceptive suppression is a helpful diagnostic method in primary headache. The reduction of ES 2 in chronic tension headache sufferers might suggest a deficient activation or excessive inhibition of the motoric trigeminus nucleus by pontobulbar inhibitory neurons which receive a strong input from limbic and nociceptive structures.
-
We have retrospectively investigated 71 patients with ICD-9 diagnoses 293.0 or 293.1, who were treated in our clinic in 1987, with respect to the maximum severity of altered consciousness. On the basis of an available neurological grading into "clouding of consciousness", "confusional state", "delirium", "stupor", and "coma", and from knowledge of the underlying somatic disease, we have developed prognostic criteria: Disorders of heart and circulation associated with acute organic mental disorder (with altered consciousness) carry a fair prognosis for recovery of the mental disorder in approximately two-thirds of all patients affected, even in advanced age. The same statement is valid with respect to drug-induced acute organic mental disorders, whereas most cases of cerebrovascular disorders with mental disturbances proceed to chronic forms of organic mental disorder. We believe that the clinical descriptive terms referred to above allow easy grading of states of acutely/subacutely altered consciousness, thereby providing prognostic criteria for the course of the disease.